Collegiate Times

Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — This article has been modified from its original version. The date for Phi Beta Delta's panel discussion is Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Hokies United and the Virginia Tech community are working toward an ambitious goal of sending at least $100,000 to aid rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

All funds raised through Hokies United are sent to Partners in Health, the most well known aid organization in Haiti. PIH has been working in Haiti since 1985 and has worked with Tech groups in the past.

PIH, along with other aid groups operating in the country, still desperately need aid, even two weeks after the Jan. 12 earthquake that measured a 7.0 on the Richter scale. The Haitian government recently announced an official body count of 150,000, with an estimated 200,000 dead.

Various groups working under the Hokies United umbrella have currently raised over $12,000, according to the Hokies United Web site.

There have also been other collections and events whose total funds raised have not been reported to Hokies United. It is hard to say exactly how much money the Tech community has donated to relief efforts altogether.

In a Hokies United meeting Tuesday night, SGA president and Hokies United chairman Brandon Carroll said if student groups are sponsoring donation jars they need to make sure to secure their funds with Hokies United.

The Hokies United Web site also lists upcoming events and businesses that have partnered with Hokies United as official sponsors of donation jars.

All this week, the Pamplin Business School is sponsoring a collection jar in the Pamplin Atrium.

Shane McCarty, a representative from the broad-based funding subcommittee of Hokies United, said the monetary goal of the group from Pamplin is $5,000.

Many downtown Blacksburg businesses are sponsoring collections and special events.

Several special events this weekend will focus on raising money for Hokies United.

During the Thursday night men’s basketball game against the North Carolina, Student Athletic Advisory Council and Hokies United will be running a donation booth while fans enter the game.

On Friday, Feb. 5, there will be a pie auction at 5 p.m. in the Hancock Atrium, sponsored by the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity.

On Saturday, Feb. 6, a Mardi Gras for Haiti Ball will be hosted by the University Club at 7 p.m. A $10 admission fee includes food and a cash bar.

Other events are also in the works for continuing the mission of Hokies United into the future.

Kristina Hartman, undergraduate representative to the Board of Visitors has been working closely with Hokies United. She and the public education subcommittee are working together with Phi Beta Delta to host an open forum to educate the community.

“We’ll have panelists who are really knowledgeable about the history of the country and why the earthquake had such a huge impact on the country,” Hartman said.

Currently slated to appear on the panel are Patrick Guilbaud, the program director for an exchange student program that has sponsored Hatian students studying at Tech since 2008; Laura Zanotti, a political science professor; Chris Strock, a doctoral candidate who was working in Haiti at the time of the earthquake and Inesse Semeah, a representative from the office of equity and inclusion.

“We’d like to encourage everyone to attend,” Hartman said.

The panel will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center auditorium.

McCarty also said that T-shirts would be sold in the Tech bookstore for $10.

“The T-shirt is pretty good looking,” McCarty said.

Looking further ahead into the future, Hokies United representative Anne MacKimmie said the special events area of Hokies United is focusing on two major events.

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A version of this article appeared in the Feb 3 issue of the Collegiate Times.